Racine— Eva (nee: Janiak) Garbarek, 94, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Saturday, December 18, 2010, just one day prior to her surprise 95th Birthday Party.
Eva was born in Racine on December 20, 1915 to the late Joseph and Constance (nee: Kawecka) Janiak. She graduated from Washington Park High School in 1933.
On June 20, 1936 in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, she was united in marriage with Clarence Garbarek, who preceded her in death on their 65th Wedding Anniversary, June 20, 2001.
Eva had been employed as the office administrator for Dr. Frank Scheible from 1960-1986. She was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and former member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. Eva loved to play cards and was part of a 12-member card club that continued to meet monthly since the 1930’s. She was a talented seamstress, who enjoyed making and altering clothing. Baking was also a specialty of Eva’s and she always looked forward to dancing with her beloved Clarence.
Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Don Zaumeyer; son-in-law, Joseph Balcer; grandchildren, Thomas (Mikala) Heberling, Cheryl (Kenneth) Sands and David Zaumeyer; great-grandchildren, Mitchell and Benjamin Sands, Matthew and Dana Heberling; brothers, Leo and Lawrence “Rodney” Janiak; sisters, Emily Arndt and Adele Spieker; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Janiak; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, including her extended family at Park View Gardens, too numerous to mention by name.
In addition to her parents and husband, Eva was preceded in death by her daughter, Patricia Balcer, on December 31, 1998; brothers, Edward, Chester (Olga), Frank (Marie) and Matthew Janiak; sister, Irene (Henry) Ruk; brothers-in-law, Eugene Spieker and Henry Arndt; and sister-in-law, Rosemary Janiak.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 10 am in St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6400 Spring St., with Rev. William J. Dietzler officiating. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Tuesday from 5-7 pm and in church on Wednesday from 9-10 am. In memory of Eva, memorials to St. Paul the Apostle Parish or to the St. Vincent DePaul Society have been suggested.
A heartfelt note of thanks to the entire staff at Park View Gardens for the attentive care and support given to Eva during the past few years. Also, Eva’s family especially thanks Emily Arndt and Barbara Janiak for their gift of friendship and companionship. May God bless all of you!
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